No taste buds after radiation treatments

sk8momrbs

I still can't taste food after my cancer radiation treatments. This makes me NOT want to eat healthy. I crave sweets. Even tho I can barely taste them. HELP!

Tme2change

Have you tried greek yogurt mixed with frozen fruit? Honey even? Great source of protein to help you recoup and fruit will help you with the sweet, honey has healing properties as well.

toomuchbootyindapants

are you sure it's the taste buds and not the olfactory connection? Can you smell your food still?

sk8momrbs

Funny you mentioned that, I brought Greek Yogurt in for lunch (later) today. I'll give it a try. I hope this doesn't last long, I was unable to eat lots of foods during my treatments, and now that I can eat whatever I want, I can't taste anything. Even water tastes AWFUL! Mouthwash and toothpaste taste bad too. It's like I always have a bad bad taste in my mouth.

sk8momrbs

Yes, I can smell food. Actually, everything smells great, and when I go to eat it, it tastes completely different than I expect it to. I have researched it, and it seems lots of patients have experienced this. But it seems like I will never get the taste buds back, tho they all say it will go back to normal eventually.

glovepuppet

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_fruit

just a thought.

lorcart

Yes, a friend of mine had this exact thing happen. He said that mashed potatoes, his fav food, smelled SO GOOD and he couldn't WAIT to eat them...and then he did and they tasted what he imagined raw sewage would taste like. The only thing that tasted even remotely not vile was Vanilla Muscle Milk. Slowly, over time, his taste came back, but Muscle Milk saved the day in the meantime.

Tme2change

Funny you mentioned that, I brought Greek Yogurt in for lunch (later) today. I'll give it a try. I hope this doesn't last long, I was unable to eat lots of foods during my treatments, and now that I can eat whatever I want, I can't taste anything. Even water tastes AWFUL! Mouthwash and toothpaste taste bad too. It's like I always have a bad bad taste in my mouth.

I had a really good friend that had the same problem during her treatments and she often splurged and ate whatever she wanted during those times and still lost a ton of weight, not that I'm encouraging that. You still need nutrient dense foods for your body to heal during this process and if you can some that will curb help with those bad tastes anything counts right.
I have a yoannas machine where you can freeze any type of fruit especially bananas and then turn them into almost a sorbet and its wonderful. you may try and find one to help as well, we've experimented with many types and its fun.

dezcast

Its very normal for that to happen. Takes time for them to come back, but they will. Be patient and good luck

sarafil

That happened to me after treatments, but it does come back. Sorry I don't have any suggestions to help you out, but please have faith that it will get better, because it will!!!

ksb1957

Your taste buds should return in time. Try to not indulge in processed sugars. Are your salivary glands working? Cancer patients should avoid sugars and concentrate on healthy fructrose. You may wish to indulge in some of the sugar free treats, like yogurts (add fruit) or puddings. Good luck........hope this returns soon.
My husband had head and neck cancer, so I know a good deal about how difficult regaining a healthy appetite can be. Good luck!

jess7386

This is definitely normal. The inside of your mouth feels a little burned too, I'm guessing?

Your sense of taste absolutely WILL come back. It just takes a bit of time. Try to sit tight until then Best of luck with your treatment!

Dfracassa

I work in a radiation clinic, and my head and neck patients all complain of this same thing. We recommend protein shakes, like Boost or Ensure, even Glucerna, to keep your calories up and at least get something slightly nutritious into your body. Your smell/taste connection WILL heal, it will just take time. For some it never even becomes a problem at all. But your body just went through something crazy and tough, and as hard as it was, it was the right thing to do. Give it time (maybe more than you want, sorry), but you'll be able to eat the things you love again. And good luck! :flowerforyou:

SyntonicGarden

Had a friend who had the same thing happen. If methotrexate's in the mix, that's probably not helping with the food either.

While it didn't completely return to normal (he still can't taste milk chocolate, of all things) it does apparently, eventually get better. For now, I suppose it's trial and error with the foods you are allowed to eat (he couldn't eat fresh fruit or berries) and time. .

I wish you success with your treatment.

brendaj39

My husband said everything tasted like metal. He had to force himself to eat because nothing was tasting right. It did come back for him. Try to eat healthy still, lots of vegies, try some seasonings if that will help. I used a lot of spices in the vegies when I cooked for him. Hope every goes well with you! wish you the best!!!

camy1980

try to eat sweet thing but healthy , like pure honey with pancake , or dates ; they are verry healthy and suit especially with fresh milk .

sk8momrbs

this is interesting. if I can find it, I will try it. Thanks!

sk8momrbs

EXACTLY!! This is how it is for me. Everything smells soooo good, and then it tastes like crap. My daughetr said if I can't taste anything, then I should eat only fruits and vegs, to keep healthy. But I find myself wanting to taste EVERYTHING, just to see if I can!

sk8momrbs

I haven't lost any weight, I just can't get motivated. But I am back on track this weekend :happy:

sk8momrbs

Did you have RAI?? Thanks for the encouragement, nobody "gets" me around here. They think it's no big deal, and they are sick of hearing about it.

sk8momrbs

Thanks for the input, this helps me deal a little better. It is frustrating. It seems like sometimes I taste something and the next bite, I don't. It's wierd, and I don't like it! Here's to us being cancer free and healthy!!

sk8momrbs

Hi! Yes my salivary glands are working, I never had an issue with that, Thank Goodness. Once I was able to go off the Low Iodine Diet, I wanted pizza so bad. And it was awful. And the Easter ham and pineapples tasted rancid.
I Hope your husband is doing well !!! Thanks for the input, I appreciate it :happy:

sk8momrbs

Thanks!! I will keep the faith! Did you go thru this too??

sk8momrbs

This is awesome news! Thanks!! I thought I was going crazy, because NOBODY told me this would happen. And when I went for my whole body scan, I mentioned it to the tech, and she said she never heard of that happening before. I really thought I was nuts!

keem88

Funny you mentioned that, I brought Greek Yogurt in for lunch (later) today. I'll give it a try. I hope this doesn't last long, I was unable to eat lots of foods during my treatments, and now that I can eat whatever I want, I can't taste anything. Even water tastes AWFUL! Mouthwash and toothpaste taste bad too. It's like I always have a bad bad taste in my mouth.

I had a really good friend that had the same problem during her treatments and she often splurged and ate whatever she wanted during those times and still lost a ton of weight, not that I'm encouraging that. You still need nutrient dense foods for your body to heal during this process and if you can some that will curb help with those bad tastes anything counts right.
I have a yoannas machine where you can freeze any type of fruit especially bananas and then turn them into almost a sorbet and its wonderful. you may try and find one to help as well, we've experimented with many types and its fun.

you can do that without a fancy machine. freeze pieces of banana and then blend for a few seconds. maybe that wouldn't taste so fowl.
you may just need to try different foods and see what isn't awful, and then work around that

sk8momrbs

Hi, Thanks for the info, I appreciate it. Yes, it seems like it's hit or miss. Sometimes I tastes salty things and then all of a sudden things are bland again. The same with sweets. I have to be patient and wait it out.

selmafeki

As a dental hygienist to be in the future, I recommend you to drink a lot of water and also to keep your mouth hydrated with ex oils, this to prevent caries. I hope your tastebuds will come back to normal sooner rather than later.

sk8momrbs

Hi, thanks for the input!! Fortunately, I don't have the metal taste. I've heard that a lot of people have that. I'm afraid that I am OVER SALTING everything, and worried about my blood pressure (which has never been an issue before). I just have to wait and see I guess! :happy:

sk8momrbs

I tried :ohwell: it was bland. I will keep trying. Thanks for the input, I appreciate it!!

sk8momrbs

that's basically what I've been doing, but I'm worried I'm eating more than I should. I just want to keep trying foods to see if I can taste them. Can't be good for weight loss :frown:

sk8momrbs

I know I should drink more water, but water tastes awful. Not to sound gross, but it's like having "morning breath" and drinking water. It's nasty! But I do it anyway. Thanks for the advice!!